Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

New Castle County libraries now offering curbside pickup

Delaware Public Media

New Castle County libraries will now offer a curbside pickup program for those wanting to check out books, movies and more.

 

Starting Tuesday, patrons can drive to a New Castle County Library parking lot, call a number, and a librarian will bring their reserved books out to their trunk.

This new curbside pickup program is a way the libraries can let people check out books and other items during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It's part of an effort to keep patrons engaged with libraries during the pandemic.

New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer explains why the transition to a curbside program is safer.

“There’s a lot of evidence now that shows that the virus spreads much less aggressively outside." said Meyer, "So the more we can take indoor activities and bring them outside we’re going to do that. Fortunately it’s the summertime, so it’s much easier to do this.”

Currently, New Castle County libraries will only offer pickup on Tuesdays and Saturdays, but the libraries plan to expand those hours soon.

Those without cars can also pick up books with a librarian bringing them to a contactless table.

Back in March, New Castle County libraries also launched outdoor WIFI hotspots - allowing people to access the internet from the parking lot.  Sussex County libraries launched a similar program during the pandemic.

Meyer says the libraries tried to stay available throughout the pandemic.

“Though our library doors have closed, they’ve never actually been closed. You throughout this entire period have been able to take books out through our hoopla app." Said Meyer, "You can take out New Castle library books and in fact library books anywhere across the state out electronically at any time.”

The Kent County Library started offering curbside pick up earlier this month and Sussex County libraries rolled out the service Monday.

 

Roman Battaglia a corps member with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms.
 

Roman Battaglia grew up in Portland, Ore, and now reports for Delaware Public Media as a Report For America corps member. He focuses on politics, elections and legislation activity at the local, county and state levels.
Related Content